Grieving Dad Vows to ‘Get Justice’ for 9-Year-Old Daughter Allegedly Executed by Neighbor

CHICAGO — A grieving father who saw his 9-year-old daughter gunned down left court Friday frustrated that he didn't get the chance to stare down the neighbor charged with 12 counts of first-degree murder in her slaying.

“I’m disappointed," Michael Medina told The Messenger.

"I came down there so I could see him.”

Medina, 52, also vowed to never miss a court date for defendant Michael Goodman in the Aug. 5 killing of Serabi "Bibi" Medina.

“I promise to get justice for Bibi,” he said.

Neither Goodman, his lawyer nor prosecutors were present for the brief proceeding in Cook County Circuit Court, where the case was assigned to Judge Stanley Sacks.

Goodman's arraignment, which had been set for Friday, was put off until Sept. 8.

Kathryn Lisco, Goodman's public defender, told the Messenger Friday that Serbi's killing was "a horrible tragedy for everyone" and said Goodman was "plagued by debilitating and documented mental disease over the course of his life.."

She added: "The real question is: Why, despite this mental health history was Michael ever able to legally obtain a gun in the first place?"

Goodman is accused of storming out of his apartment building with a 9-mm handgun and heading straight for Serabi as her dad shouted at him after hearing a shot ring out.

Goodman allegedly ignored Medina and shot Serabi in the head as she tried to seek shelter in her building on the other side of the street.

Goodman was then shot in the face and wounded during a struggle with Medina.

Authorities haven't put forward a motive for the horrific incident but neighbors said Goodman repeatedly complained about kids making too much noise while playing outside his apartment.

Serabi's mom, Miranda Blanca, was killed in an unsolved 2018 shooting in the city's crime-ridden Austin neighborhood, prompting Medina to move their daughter to the Portage Park section for safety.

Goodman, who was indicted on Aug. 18, faces six counts of intentional murder and six counts of murder resulting from an act that creates "a strong probability of death."

If convicted of firing the weapon that killed Serabi, he would face between 45 and 85 years in prison without parole.

In court papers filed last month, prosecutors said they would seek an "extended term" because Serabi was under 12 and her death was caused by "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty."